Outdoor, Family & Children's Events :
 Fair on Fair Street  Manilla Strings  Biko  Fluffywish |
SATURDAY 2 MAY Fair on Fair StreetFair on Fair Street Fair Street is alive with colour and energy at the Fair on Fair Street, promising fun for all the family. There’s day-long entertainment on the ‘Festival Gig-Rig’, with live music and a chance to dance! Purchase fine products and unique crafts at the continental-style tented market. Enjoy street theatre, stilt-walkers, face-painting and the mad-cap antics of the fabulous Fanzini Brothers. LIVE ON THE FESTIVAL GIG-RIG12.00pm – 1.30pm Manilla StringsFronted by Des (lead singer and percussion) accompanied by Edward (backing and guitarist) and Rod (backing and double bass), Manilla Strings have established their own following throughout Ireland with their rhythmic style of the hits everyone loves. The percussion gives a big act dimension while also capable of providing the traditional serenade with guitars while roaming. 2.00 – 3.30 pm BikoDrogheda Arts Festival is delighted to introduce local band Biko – a six piece music collective dedicated to taking the listener on a musical journey. Biko consists of a line up of percussion, sax & clarinet, piano, mandolin and bass. A wide variety of genres are explored including the music of South Africa and Eastern Europe along with the influences of traditional Irish music they create a unique hybrid of global sounds. 4.00 – 6.00pm The Whole ShebangThe Whole Shebang is a seven piece Cajun / Bluegrass band whose set is loosely based around Bruce Springsteen’s 'Seeger Sessions' album. Most of these songs were written by the activist folk musician Pete Seeger who was a key figure in the mid 20th century American folk music revival and was a pioneer of protest music for civil rights. The band is headed up by Henry McCloskey and accompanied by the McCollum Bros 'Shane and Roddy', Gene Berrills, Colm Moore, Seán Crawley and Seán Smith. The Fair on Fair Street is sponsored by Scotch Hall
Fluffywish CHILDREN’S THEATREFanzini Brothers present "Fluffywish" full of bouncing fluffy bunny rabbits, knitting, bathyometric fluid dynamics and romantic love poetry. Will they perform this……… or their other danger show............it's up to you. Join the Fanzinis at 6pm in the Little Duke Theatre where the audience will decide which show they perform! Date Sunday 3rd May |
Traditional Day in Millmount  Cannonball Circus
Niamh de Búrca  Mark Kelly 
Donal O’Connor & Martin Meehan  Nuala Kennedy |
SUNDAY 3 MAY Traditional Day in Millmount
Get those feet tapping and hands clapping at the Festival’s Traditional Day in Millmount! From 12 noon to 6 pm, there will be activities for all the family as the Festival presents musicians, singers and dancers of the highest calibre in the historic surroundings of Millmount. Meandering through Millmount Museum and Craft Village will be food and craft stalls Old Drogheda Society Bookstall, street theatre, Meath Harp Ensemble, live music, sing-a-longs, set dancing, the firing of the replica 1808 cannons on Millmount Tower, the Cannonball Circus with the Fanzini Brothers and much more. THE CANNONS WILL ROAR at 2pmThe replica 1808 cannons on Millmount Tower will be fired by a full artillery crew in period costume while down in the Barracks Square foot soldiers from the period will drill and fire their muskets. And just in case things get too serious, the fabulous Fanzini Brothers will be on hand to whip up an air of the ridiculous with their Cannonball CircusGuido and Ronaldo Fanzini, inspired by the mountains of Venice and the canals of the Italian Alps, present their new show Cannonball Circus. With no expense spared, with no concern for their safety, they laugh in the face of danger. They have spent the entire budget on a gargantuan cannon! There is no money left for the acts! The show must go on, but what will they do?
If you feel like singing… Join singer Niamh de Búrca and guitarist Mark Kelly (Altan) for a trip down memory lane with songs in English and ‘as Gaeilge’ from our school days. Song-sheets will be provided and participation will be greatly encouraged! Set DancingVisitors to Millmount will be invited to join in with the Termonfeckin Set Dancers, an enthusiastic group of people who have been dancing for over thirty years. This group, lead by John and Sheila McEvoy, loves to share their great love of dancing and encourages everyone to ‘have a go’. Donal O’Connor & Martin MeehanSon of the celebrated fiddler Gerry O’Connor (Skylark, Kinvara) and renowned singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin (Lá Lugh), Dónal O’Connor (Fiddle) has inherited a great musical legacy of at least five generations of fiddle playing. Dónal’s playing was described recently by the press as “immaculate” “electrifying” and “…borne out of naked talent and consummate professionalism…” The Irish Times and “exquisite” - The Scotsman. Martin Meehan (Flute) originates from Manchester where he began tin whistle and flute classes under the guidance of Angela Durkin and Michael McGoldrick. He has recently released a solo flute album ‘Three’s Company’ to much critical acclaim. “One of the most sensual odes to a musical instrument you’ll encounter this side of Miles Davis’s ‘Tutu’.” -- The Irish Times Time 1-2pm Nuala KennedyIrish traditional singer and flautist Nuala Kennedy performs a range of material from across the Irish and Scottish traditional music repertoires. She also composes her own idiosyncratic brand of traditional music and tours in a variety of line-ups from duo and quartet to a nine-piece festival band 'The New Shoes' with whom she recorded her debut album released on Nashville's Compass Records (2007). It received four-star reviews from the national Scotland on Sunday newspaper, Songlines Magazine and was voted traditional album of the week by The Irish Times. "original and highly accomplished" SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY "not only an exceptional interpreter of the tradition, her own tunes glisten with freshness…dazzling" THE IRISH TIMES
Drogheda’s FinestA seisiún with Drogheda’s finest traditional musicians and guests
Time 5-6pm |
Fun at St. Dominic’s Park  Fun at St. Dominic’s Park  Fun at St. Dominic’s Park |
MON 4 MAY Family Fun Day in the Park12 noon – 4pm It’s fun, fun, fun at St. Dominic’s Park at Family Fun Day on Bank Holiday Monday! Join other families and children and be entertained by Cahoots NI and Silly Billys. Enter the magical and mysterious world of Family Hoffman’s Mystery Palace. There’s plenty to occupy children of all ages from tots to tweenies, whilst Mum and Dad enjoy the outdoor entertainment. There’s nothing sillier than Silly Billy’s performing their action packed roller-coaster show! It’s full of magic and madness, comedy and clowning - the audience just has to take part! Try the activities, challenges, games and physical fun. Work off some energy or sit down and relax and watch and listen to the music of the Lourdes Brass Band and celebrate their 50th birthday with them. Bring a picnic and don’t miss this amazing family day on Monday in St. Dominic’s Park. This event is sponsored by Beverage Business Solutions,
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 The Family Hoffman’s Mystery Palace |
MON 4 MAY Children’s / Family Theatre Family Fun Day in Dominic’s Park Cahoots NI presents The Family Hoffman’s Mystery PalaceHoused in a charming circus tent, each foray into the world of The Family Hoffmann will be a vaudevillian extravaganza of live music, illusion, circus and magic – good old fashioned family fun! Internationally acclaimed children’s theatre company Cahoots NI is delighted to present a refreshing and innovative approach to an old art form that is full of surprises and is sure to ignite and stimulate the imaginations of young audiences everywhere! And remember…….the closer you look, the less you see! Date Monday 4th May |
